913th Airlift Wing
Encyclopedia
The 913th Airlift Wing was a wing
of the United States Air Force
, assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command
(AFRC) and operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command
. It was based out of the Willow Grove Air Reserve Station
at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
. The 913th Airlift Wing trained and equipped Air Force Reservists
to perform the combat missions of tactical airlift and aerial re-suppply.
, airdrop
s, airlandings, and extraction delivery of equipment and supplies, as well as airlift of personnel and cargo since 1963. During the Vietnam War
the group also helped train Vietnamese Air Force
C-119 Flying Boxcar
aircrews in 1967 and ferried aircraft to Southeast Asia
in March 1968 and to Taiwan
in January 1969.
In 1970, the 913th transitioned from the C-119 to the C-130 Hercules
. Beginning in 1977 the 913th participated in rotational "Coronet Oak" operations
in the Panama Canal Zone
flying airlift in support of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) at Howard AFB. In addition, it has performed humanitarian
airlift and supported contingency operations worldwide, including operations in Southwest Asia
and the Balkans
.
The 913 AW was de-activated on 30 Sep 2007 pursuant to Base Realignment and Closure
(BRAC) 2005 action, with its C-130 Hercules
aircraft redistributed to other active duty Air Force and Air Force Reserve airlift units.
Correction The 913th was not closed under the 2005 BRAC Report. "The Commission found that the majority of community concerns as they pertained to the 111th Fighter Wing (Air National Guard) had merit. Moreover, the Commission notes that the 913th Airlift Wing (AFRES) was not included in the recommendation by the Department. As best could be determined, the Navy had forwarded their proposal to Air Force for their review, and the Air Force recommended action addressed only the Air National Guard unit." Page 95 of Part 1 of 2005 BRAC Report
913th Maintenance Group (913 MXG)
913th Mission Support Group (913 MSG)
913th Medical Squadron (913 MDS)
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
(AFRC) and operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
. It was based out of the Willow Grove Air Reserve Station
Naval Air Station Willow Grove
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove or NASJRB Willow Grove was a Naval Air Station owned by the U.S. Navy and located in Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States four miles northwest of the central business district of Willow Grove, which is north of...
at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The 913th Airlift Wing trained and equipped Air Force Reservists
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
to perform the combat missions of tactical airlift and aerial re-suppply.
History
The 913th performed air transportation for airborne forcesAirborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
, airdrop
Airdrop
An airdrop is a type of airlift, developed during World War II to resupply otherwise inaccessible troops, who themselves may have been airborne forces. In some cases, it is used to refer to the airborne assault itself. Early airdrops were conducted by dropping or pushing padded bundles from...
s, airlandings, and extraction delivery of equipment and supplies, as well as airlift of personnel and cargo since 1963. During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
the group also helped train Vietnamese Air Force
Vietnam Air Force
The Vietnam Air Force began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world’s sixth largest air force at the height of its power, in 1974...
C-119 Flying Boxcar
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
aircrews in 1967 and ferried aircraft to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
in March 1968 and to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in January 1969.
In 1970, the 913th transitioned from the C-119 to the C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
. Beginning in 1977 the 913th participated in rotational "Coronet Oak" operations
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
flying airlift in support of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) at Howard AFB. In addition, it has performed humanitarian
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
airlift and supported contingency operations worldwide, including operations in Southwest Asia
Southwest Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia are terms that describe the westernmost portion of Asia. The terms are partly coterminous with the Middle East, which describes a geographical position in relation to Western Europe rather than its location within Asia...
and the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
.
The 913 AW was de-activated on 30 Sep 2007 pursuant to Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
(BRAC) 2005 action, with its C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
aircraft redistributed to other active duty Air Force and Air Force Reserve airlift units.
Correction The 913th was not closed under the 2005 BRAC Report. "The Commission found that the majority of community concerns as they pertained to the 111th Fighter Wing (Air National Guard) had merit. Moreover, the Commission notes that the 913th Airlift Wing (AFRES) was not included in the recommendation by the Department. As best could be determined, the Navy had forwarded their proposal to Air Force for their review, and the Air Force recommended action addressed only the Air National Guard unit." Page 95 of Part 1 of 2005 BRAC Report
Operations
- Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
- Desert Storm
- Southern Watch
- Allied Force
- Noble Eagle
- Enduring Freedom
- Iraqi Freedom
Previous designations
- 913th Troop Carrier Group (1963–1967)
- 913th Tactical Airlift Group (1967–1992)
- 913th Airlift Group (1992–1994)
- 913th Airlift Wing (1994–2007)
Major command
- Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
(1963–1970) - Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(1970–1975) - Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(1975–1992) - Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(1992–2007 - Air Force Reserve CommandAir Force Reserve CommandThe Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
, gained by Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(1994–2007)
Wing
- 512th Troop Carrier Wing512th Airlift WingThe 512th Airlift Wing, an associate C-5 Galaxy Air Force Reserve unit is located at Dover AFB, Delaware. The 512 AW helps maintain, repair and flies the same aircraft as its active duty counterparts...
(1963–1965) - 302d Troop Carrier Wing302d Airlift WingThe 302nd Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve based out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Mission:...
(1965–1966) - 514th Military Airlift Wing514th Air Mobility WingThe 514th Air Mobility Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.-History:...
(1966–1970) - 302d Special Operations Wing302d Airlift WingThe 302nd Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve based out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Mission:...
(1970–1971) - 403d Tactical Airlift Wing403d Wing403d Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command. It is located at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, and employs a military manning authorization of more than 1,400 reservists, including some 250 full-time air reserve technicians.403d Wing performs...
(1971–1976) - 459th Airlift Wing459th Air Refueling WingThe 459th Air Refueling Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility since 1954.-Overview:...
(1976–1992) - 403d Wing403d Wing403d Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command. It is located at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, and employs a military manning authorization of more than 1,400 reservists, including some 250 full-time air reserve technicians.403d Wing performs...
(1992–1994)
Subordinate organizations
913th Operations Group (913 OG)- 327th Airlift Squadron327th Airlift SquadronThe 327th Airlift Squadron was part of the 913th Airlift Wing at Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. It operated C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-History:...
(327 AS) - 913th Operations Support Flight (913 OSF)
913th Maintenance Group (913 MXG)
- 913th Maintenance Squadron (913 MXS)
- 913th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (913 AMXS)
- 913th Maintenance Operations Squadron (913 MOS)
913th Mission Support Group (913 MSG)
- 31st Aerial Port Squadron (31 APS)
- 92d Aerial Port Squadron (92 APS)
- 913th Civil Engineering Squadron (913 CES)
- 913th Communications Flight (913 CF)
- 913th Contracting Flight (913 CONF)
- 913th Mission Support Squadron (913 MSS)
- 913th Security Forces Squadron (913 SFS)
- 913th Services Flight (913 SVF)
- 913th Logistics Readiness Squadron (913 LRS)
913th Medical Squadron (913 MDS)